Threading attachment



Dec. 13, 1966 QAROQ} 3,2@U,9?2

TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT NT Filed June 4, 1964 N. A. DAROC! 3290,9 72

THREADING ATTACHMENT Dec. 13, 1966 5 Sheets$heet 2 Filed June 4, 1964 a 4] F/GZ INVENTOR. N/cHams A. Dfi/POC/ MES S Dec. 13, 1966 N. A. DAROCI THREADING ATTACHMENT 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 4, 1964 7 2/ 6O 64 M //v INVENTOR Aha/vows Q D/IEOQ/ BY W / AUG/0106,

fino/e/veyg United States Patent Ofiice 3,29%,972 Patented Dec. 13, 1966 3,290,972 THREADTNG ATTACHMENT Nicholas A. Daroci, Maple Heights, ()hio, assignor to The Warner & Swasey Company, Cieveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed June 4, 1964, Ser. No. 372,625 16 Claims. (Cl. 825.5)

The present invention relates to a machine having tool and work support members which are relatively movable along a first path to and from a working position and when in working position are relatively moved in a direction transverse to the first path through a work pass and at the end of the work pass are relatively moved from their working position and returned to their relative position at the start of the work pass preparatory to making a second work pass.

In the type of machine to which the present invention relates a carrier member, which may be a carrier for a thread-forming tool, and a support member are relatively moved to and from a working position by relative reciprocatory movement along a first path and when in working position, are relatively moved in a first direction transverse to the first path to eifect a work pass, a threadforming pass in the case of a carrier member mounting a threading tool. The carrier and support members are relatively moved from their working position at the end of the work pass and returned while in a nonworking position to a relative position at the start of the work pass preparatory to effecting a second work pass. The relative movement of the members along the first path into and out of working position effects relative movement of power transmission elements that form a part of the drive for relatively moving the members in the work pass to engage the drive when the members are relatively moved to their working position and to disconnect the drive when the members are relatively moved from their working position to a nonworking position.

The principal object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved machine of the type described above wherein the carrier member is biased to its work position at the beginning of its work pass and is automatically returned to its position at the beginning of its work pass when moved out of working position at the end of its work pass.

An important object of the present invention is to provide a new and an improved machine of the type described wherein a carrier member and a support member are automatically relatively moved from their working position after relative movement through a work pass to effect relative movement of the carrier and support members from their relative Working position to their relative nonworking position and the disconnection of the drive for relatively moving the members in the work pass, and wherein the relative movement to the nonworking position at the end of the work pass is effected by a spring member which engages one of the carrier or support members and applies a force to the one member to move the member to disconnect the drive and which is ineffective to hold the one member out of working position when it is returned to the beginning of the work pass, and the one member is thereby automatically positioned to effect another work pass.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a new and an improved machine of the type noted above wherein the one member is biased to its; working position during the initial portion of the work pass and a spring member which moves the one member from its work position is charged during the work pass.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a machine, as noted in the next preceding object, wherein the spring member is rendered ineifective during the work pass by latch means which is released at the end of the work pass to release the spring member to effect movement of the support and carrier members from their relative working position.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a new and an improved machine, as noted in the next preceding paragraph, wherein the spring member acts between a portion of the one member and a knockoff member movable relative to the one member during the work pass to charge the spring.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved machine wherein the knock-off member during the work pass moves along a cam surface which effects movement of the knock-off member against the bias of the spring to charge the spring and wherein latching means is operated during the work stroke to render the spring means ineffective until the latching means is released.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention relates from the following detailed description thereof made with reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of the specification and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a part of a machine tool embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary plan view of the machine tool shown in FIG. 1 looking at the left side of the machine tool as viewed in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of the machine tool shown in FIG. 2, taken approximately along the section line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a schematic sectional view illustrating a portion of the apparatus of FIG. 1 in different operative positions.

The present invention provides a machine wherein first and second support members are relatively reciprocable along a first path to and from a working position and when in the working position are moved relatively in a work pass transverse to the first path, and are relatively moved from their working position to a nonworking position at the end of the work pass and returned to the beginning of the work pass, with the movement of members to and from working position effecting the operation of and the stopping of the drive for relatively moving the support members through the work pass.

While the present invention is susceptible of various constructions and modifications and of uses in various machines where it is desirable to relatively move support members through a work pass with the support members in a working position and to relatively move the support members to a non-working position at the end of the work pass and then return the support members to the start of the work pass, it is particularly adaptable for use in a lathe wherein a threading tool is carried by one of the members and a rotating workpiece is carried by the other so that during a work pass the tool forms a thread on the rotating workpiece, and the preferred embodimentof the invention is shown and described hereinbelow as embodied in such a lathe.

Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a lathe having a bed 11 and a headstock 12, which comprises a Work support member, at one end of the bed, namely, the left-hand end as viewed in FIG. 1. The headstock 12 includes a spindle 13 which is supported for rotation about a horizontal axis and the outer end of the spindle is provided with a conventional chuck for supporting a workpiece on the axis of the spindle for rotation with the spindle. The illustrated lathe includes, for purposes of illustration, a cross-sliding turret 16 mounted on a carriage 17 which is supported on ways on the bed 11 for movement parallel to the axis of the spindle 13 to move a tool for operating upon a workpiece toward and away from the spindle. The cross-slding turret 16 and the carriage 17 do not form a part of the present invention and, therefore, will not be described in detail. The spindle 13 may be rotated by a conventional drive located within the machine and since such drives are well known, the drive to the spindle has not been shown and will not be described in detail,

The lathe 10 also includes a carrier 20, which is a tool support member, located at the top rear of the machine, as shown in FIG. 1, and which mounts a tool slide 21 for mounting a tool T adapted to cut threads on the workpiece. The carrier 20 comprises a bar or shaft 23 extending parallel to the axis of the spindle 13 adjacent to the top rear of the lathe 10. The bar 23 is supported for axial sliding (movement by a support arm 25 rising upwardly from the bed 11 at the right-hand end thereof, as viewed in FIG. 1, and by a boss 26, see FIG. 2, secured to the rear side of the headstock 1-2.

The bar or shaft 23 is supported in a boss 3;) at the end of the arm 25 and in the boss 26 by ball-bearing type bushings, respectively, so that the bar 23 may be rotated, as well as moved axially. In FIG. 1, the bar 23 is shown in its position where the tool T carried by the carrier 20 is in its working or active position and the tool T is to be moved to its inactive position when the bar 23 is rotated in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 1, to swing the tool T into its nonworking position. When the tool is in working position, the bar 23 is moved axially to advance the tool through a work stroke to form, in the illustrated embodiment, a helical cut on the workpiece. The bar 23 is axially slidable in the boss 26 and in the arm 25 to effect the movement of the tool T through the work pass.

The bar 23 is moved axially through the work pass 'by a lead screw 42 rotatably supported at the top of the headstock 12 and adapted to be engaged by a follower 43 to effect movement of the carrier 20 through its work pass. The follower 43 is mounted in an arm 44 having one end connected to the bar 23 for movement therewith and extending toward the front of the machine. The arm 44 can be moved to a position wherein it extends over the lead screw 42, and the follower 43 is mounted in an opening 46 extending inwardly from the underside of the arm and the follower 43 extends outwardly from the underside of the arm. The end of the arm 44 remote from the' shaft 23 is provided with a handle 48 which may be used to swing the arm 44 from an inactive position where the tool slide 21 and tool T are in an inactive position and the follower 43 disengaged from the lead screw 42, to a position where the follower 43 engages the lead screw 42 and the tool T is in a working position. With the follower 43 engaged with the lead screw 42, rotation of the lead screw will cause the follower 43 to move to the left along the lead screw, as the latter is viewed in FIGS. 1 and 2, and the tool slide 21 to move toward the spindle along a line of movement parallel to the axis of the spindle to move the tool T through a work pass.

The bar 23 has an axial opening therethrough and the end portion thereof adjacent boss 26 receives a rod 51 that is fixed to the headstock 12 outwardly of the end of the bar 23, as viewed in FIG. 2, and which rod extends into the opening in the bar 23. The inner end of the rod 51 anchors the end of a coil spring 52 disposed in the bore or opening in the bar 23, the spring 52 having its other end connected to the bar 23 at the opposite end of the bar so that the spring 52 acts to urge the bar 23 to the right, as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 2, and the spring opposes but yields to movement of the bar 23 by the lead screw 42.

A support member 54a is mounted on the bar 23 inwardly of th earm 25. The support member 54a supports one end of a bar 54b, the other end of which is supported by the arm 44. The bar 54!) functions to support the tool silde 21 and the tool T for movement with the arm 44 and shaft 23. The support member 54a has a collar portion 54 and the spring 52 urges the bar 23 to the right until the collar 54 engages a stop member 55 supported adjacent the inner side of the boss 39 to limit the movement of the carrier 20 to the right, as viewed in FIG. 1. The bar 23 and, in turn, the carrier 20, may be moved to the left against the action of the spring 52 by engaging the follower 43 with the lea-d screw 42 but the carrier will be returned to its position where the collar 54 engages the stop member 55 whenever the arm 44 is moved upwardly to disengage the follower 43 and the lead screw 42. It can now be readily perceived that the movement of the tool T to working position and the movement of the tool slide 21 through a work pass may be initiated by swinging the arm 44 downwardly to move the follower 43 into engagement with the lead screw 42 and that the lead screw and follower will move the carrier 20 through a work pass in opposition to the spring 52 as long as the follower 43 remains in engagement with the lead screw 42 and the latter is rotated.

In the preferred and illustrated embodiment, the weight of the arm 44 and of the overhang of the slide 21 and the tool T is such that the follower 43 is biased toward engagement with the lead screw 42. Thus, the Weight of these elements may be said to comprise a biasing means which is effective to move the arm 44 and the follower 43 into their active or working position, as will be clear from the description hereinbelow.

When the screw and follower members 42, 43 are in their active position with the arm in its working or active position, as shown in FIG. 3, and the screw is rotating, the arm will be moved in a work pass so as to effect the threading of the workpiece, as described hereinabove. When the arm 44 reaches the end of the work stroke, it is moved in a generally vertical direction and, specifically, in a clockwise direction about the axis of the shaft 23, as viewed in FIG. 3, to effect disengage-ment of the screw 42 and the follower 43 so as to stop the movement of the arm in the work pass and the spring 52, as described hereinabove, causes the arm 44 to return to its initial or startmg position.

The lathe 10 includes a means 60 for effecting the movement of the arm 44 in a clockwise direction about the shaft 23 at the end of the work stroke to effect disengagement of the screw 42 and follower 43. The means 60 for moving the arm 44 so as to disengage the screw 42 and the follower 43 includes a spring member 61 which is located in the outermost end of the arm 44 and is positioned in a passage or opening 62 in the arm 44, which opening intersects the undersurface of the arm 44. The coil spring 61 acts between the bottom surface 63 of the passage 62 and a block member 64 slidably mounted in the passage 62. The block member 64 has a slot 65 therein which extends transverse of the axis of the spring 61 and a dowel pin member 66 fixedly supported in the arm 44- extends through the slot 65 in theblock 64. The slot 65 through which the dowel pin extends permits sliding movement of the block 64 in a vertical direction relative to the dowel pin 66 and relative to the arm 44. The dowel pin 66 functions to hold the block 64 from falling from the passage 62 when the arm member 44 is in its inactive posiition. The block member 64 carries a suitable roller or knock-01f member 70* beneath the arm 44 and outwardly of the passage 62. Of course, it should be apparent that the block 64 and the spring 61, as well as the roller 70, move with the arm 44 as the arm is moved by the screw and follower arrangement.

When the arm member 44 is moved to its active position, as shown in FIG. 4, the weight of the arm 44 and tool slide 21, as noted above, biases the arm 44 into its active position where the drive elements 42, 43 are engaged. In this position the spring 61, as best shown at the right in FIG. 5, is in an extended condition and the block 64 is in a low position in the passage 62. In this position, the spring 61 provides little, if any, force resisting the biasing of the arm 44, and the biasing spring 61 is thus ineffective to act against movement of the arm 44 into its active position when the drive elements 42, 43 are engaged.

As the arm 44 moves in its work pass by the action of the drive elements 42, 43 and the roller 70 moves therewith, means is provided for charging the spring 61. The means for charging the spring comprises a cam member 71 supported by the block 58. The cam member 71 has an inclined cam surface 72 positioned in the path of movement of the roller 70 and an upper cam surface 73. As the arm 44 and the roller 70 move along a work pass, the roller 70 engages the cam surface 72 and rolls up the surface. As the roller rolls up the surface 72, the block 64 moves upwardly in the passage 62 in the arm member 44 and relative to the dowel pin 66. The upward movement of the block 64 effects charging or compression of the spring 61. The amount of compres sion of the spring is determined by the amount of movement of the block 64 relative to the arm. The roller then engages the cam surface 73 and rolls along the cam surface 73 which holds the spring 61 compressed.

In order to prevent the spring 61 when charged from immediately moving the arm 44 upwardly and disengaging the drive elements 42 and 43, a latching means 80 is provided for rendering the biasing means ineffective until the arm 44 has reached the end of the work pass. The latching means 80 comprises a pair of ledge members 81, 82 which move into latching engagement upon movement of the arm 44 in its work pass and before the spring 61 is compressed by movement of the roller 78 up the cam surface 72. The ledge member 81 is in the form of a block secured in a slot in the arm member 44 at its outermost end and includes a portion 81a extending beyond the arm member 44 toward the block 58. The ledge member 81 is substantially centrally located with respect to the arm member 44 and lies in alignment with the centerline of the roller member 70. The ledge member 82 is also in the form of a block secured to the block member 58 and has a portion 82a extending toward the outermost end of the arm 44 and toward ledge member 81.

When the arm member 44 is in its initial or starting position in its work pass, the ledge member 81 is spaced outwardly toward the right, as viewed in FIG. 5, from the ledge member 82. As the arm member 44 moves along its work pass toward the left as viewed in FIG. 5, the ledge member 81 moves beneath the ledge member 82 prior to or at about the same time as the roller member 70 engages the surface 72 of the cam 71 to effect compression of the spring 61. Therefore, the ledge members 81, 82 cooperate to prevent the spring 61 from moving the arm 44 out of working position when the spring 61 is initially compressed during the work stroke.

As the arm member 44 moves in its work pass with the latching means 80 engaged and the roller 70 and the spring 61 compressed, the arm member 44 reaches the end of its work pass with the roller 70 in engagement with the upper surface 73 of the cam member 71. When the arm member 44 reaches the end of its work pass, the spring 61 is effective to move the arm member 44 in a clockwise direction about the shaft 23, as viewed in FIG. 3, sufiiciently so as to disengage the screw and follower elements 42, 43 and permit movement of the arm 44 to its initial or starting position by means of the spring 52. In order to permit operation of the spring 61, means is provided for releasing the latch means 80. The release of the latch means is effected by terminating latch member 82 before the surface 73 terminates so that latch member 81 which moves with the arm 44 moves beyond the latch member 82, while the roller member 70 remains in engagement with the cam surface 73. The cam surface 73 thus extends to the left, as viewed in FIG. 5, beyond the furthermost edge of ledge member 82.

When the ledge member 81 moves beyond the ledge member 82, the spring 61 is released and moves the arm 44 vertically to disengage the drive elements 42, 43 and move them to a non-working position as shown at the left in FIG. 5. When the spring 61 expands to effect disengaging movement of the arm 44, the roller 70 acts as a reaction member and the cam surface 73 prevents movement of the roller by the spring 61. The dowel pin 66, of course, is moved vertically in the slot 65 of the roller block 64 to the position shown at the left in FIG. 5 and the latching ledge member 81 likewise is moved vertically to the position shown.

With the members in the position shown at the left in FIG. 5,. the spring member 52 is operative to return the arm member to its beginning position in the work pass. In the return movement the roller 70 is rolled back over the cam surfaces 73, 72 and the weight bias of the arm member, as noted above, automatically returns the arm member to the position shown at the right of FIG. 5 where the drive elements 42, 43 are in engagement without the need for the operator to move the arm into the position where the drive elements are in engagement.

The ledge members 81, 82 are constructed so as not to interfere with the return movement of the arm member 44 in a direction opposite the direction of movement in its work pass. The ledge members 81, 82 are provided with oppositely tapered outer surfaces 81b, 82b, respectively, and when the ledge member 81 is in its upper or disengaged position, as shown at the left in FIG. 5, the surface 81b thereof is above the tapered surface 82b of the ledge member 82 and rides therealong and, thus the ledge member 81 clears the ledge member 82 on movement back to its initial position, as shown in the right of FIG. 5. When the ledge member 81 moves beyond ledge member 82 on the return movement, ledge member 81 drops downwardly and the follower 43 engages the screw 42.

When the arm member 44 is moved in a direction opposite its direction of movement in its work pass, a suitable actuating mechanism is provided for indexing or feeding the tool slide on the tool block supporting the tool slide inwardly so that the tool T on the next work pass will effect a deeper cut of the workpiece. Any suitable indexing mechanism may be provided so as to effect this indexing movement. Many such indexing mechanisms are available and any conventional structure may be used. One suitable structure is shown and described in copending application Serial No. 90,431, assigned to the assignee of the present invention.

While a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described in considerable detail hereinabove, certain changes, modifications, and adaptations thereof may be made by those skilled in the art to which it relates, and it is hereby my intention to cover all changes, modifications, and adaptations which fall within the appended claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. In a machine, a movable arm member, a support member for said movable arm member, means mounting said movable arm member for movement in a work pass from an initial position to an end position and for return to said initial position and for reciprocatory movement transversely of said work pass to said initial position and from said end position, first and second drive elements operatively connected to said movable arm and support members and engageable upon movement of said movable arm member transverse of said work pass toward said support member to said initial position and when engaged operable to efiect movement of said movable arm member along said work pass and being separable by movement of said movable arm member transversely of said work pass away from said support member and from said end position, means biasing said movable arm member into its said initial Working position when said movable arm and support members are positioned at the beginning of said work pass, latching means including cooperating parts on said movable arm and support members operable to hold said first and second drive elements engaged during movement of said movable arm member in said Work pass, means for efiecting release of said latching means and separation of said drive elements when the movable arm member arrives at its end position in said work pass, and means for returning said movable arm member to the beginning of said work pass at which said movable arm member is biased into its said initial position.

2. In a machine, a movable arm member, a support member for said movable arm member, means mounting the movable arm member for movement in a work pass from an initial position to a final position and for return to said initial position and for reciprocatory movement transversely of said work pass, first and second drive elements operatively connected to said movable arm and support members and engageable upon movement of said movable arm member transversely of said work pass toward its said support member and to its initial position and when engaged operable to effect movement of said movable arm member along said work pass and being separable by movement of said movable arm member transversely of said work pass away from said support member, said movable arm member being biased into its said initial working position when said movable arm and support members are positioned in the beginning of said work pass and when in its initial working position, latching means including cooperating parts on said movable arm and support members operable to hold said first and second drive elements engaged during movement of said movable arm member in said work pass, means for effecting separation of said drive elements when the movable arm member arrives at its final position in said work pass, and means for returning said movable arm member to the beginning of its work pass at which said movable arm member is biased into said initial position with said drive elements engaged.

3. A machine as defined in claim 2 wherein said support member is adapted to carry a rotating workpiece and said movable member is adapted to carry a tool for engaging and cutting said workpiece.

4. In a machine, a movable arm member, a support member for said movable arm member, means mounting the movable arm member for movement in a work pass from an initial position to a final position and for return to said initial position and for reciprocatory movement transversely of said work pass, first and second drive elements operatively connected to said movable arm and support members and engageable upon movement of said movable arm member transversely of said work pass toward its said support member and to its initial position and when engaged operable to effect movement of said movable arm member along said work pass and being separable by movement of said movable arm member transversely of said work pass away from said support member, said movable arm member being biased into its said initial working position when said movable arm and support members are positioned in the beginning of said work pass and when in its initial working position, latching means including cooperating parts on said movable arm support members operable to hold said first and second drive elements engaged during movement of said movable arm member in said work pass, means for effecting separation of said drive elements when the movable arm member arrives at its final position in said work pass, and means for returning said movable arm member to the beginning of its work pass at which said movable arm member is biased into said initial position with said drive elements engaged, said means for effecting separation of said drive elements comprising a spring member which is charged during said work pass.

5. A machine as defined in claim 4 wherein said spring member acts between said movable member and a knockoff member carried by said movable member, and including means for moving said knock-ofi member against the bias of said spring member during said work pass and latching means operable prior to charge of said spring member by movement of said latching means to render said spring member ineffective until released, and means providing for release of said latching means at the end of said work pass.

6. A machine as defined in claim 5 wherein said means for moving said knock-off member comprises a cam member positioned in the path of movement of the knock-off member and having a first cam surface eflFective to move the knock-off member to charge said spring member and a second cam surface engageable with the knock-off member when said latch means is released and operable as a reaction member for said spring member.

7. In a machine, a movable member, a support member for said movable member, means mounting said movable member for movement in a work pass from an initial position to a final position and for return to said initial position and for reciprocatory movement transversely of said work pass, first and second drive elements operatively connected to said movable and support members and engageable upon movement of said movable member transversely of said work pass toward said support member to said initial position and when engaged operable to effect movement of said movable member along said work pass and being separable by movement of said movable member transversely of said work pass away from said support member, said movable member being biased into its said initial working position when said movable and support members are positioned at the beginning of said work pass and when in said initial working position, a knock-off member carried by said movable member, biasing spring means acting between said knock-ofl? member and said movable member and biasing said knock-off member and said movable member into a first relative position at the initial position of said movable member, means for positioning said knock-oft member and said movable member in a second relative position during the work pass and for effecting charging of said spring means during said work pass, latching means operable during said work pass to render said biasing spring means ineffective, and means effecting release of the latching means at said final position in said work pass and eifecting operation of said biasing means to cause said knock-01f member and said movable member to move to their said first relative position.

8. In a machine, a movable member, a support member for said movable member, means mounting said movable member for movement in a work pass from an initial position to a final position and for return to said initial position and for reciprocatory movement transversely of said work pass, first and second drive elements operatively connected to said movable and support members and engageable upon movement of said movable member transversely of said work pass toward said support member and when engaged operable to effect movement of said movable member along said pass and being separable by movement of said movable member transversely of said work pass away from said support member, a knock-off member carried by said movable member and movable therewith during said work pass, biasing means acting between said knock-off member and said movable member and biasing said movable member and said knock-off member into a first relative position at the initial portion of said work stroke, said movable member being biased into its said initial working position when said movable and support members are positioned at the beginning of said work pass, means for effecting movement of said knock-off member relative to said support member to a second relative position during movement of said movable member during its work pass and overcoming and charging said spring means, latching means rendering said spring means ineffective during said work pass, means for releasing the latching means at the end of said work pass, and means for holding said knock off member in position after release of said latching means causing said spring means to effect movement of said movable member away from said support member and moving said knockoff member and said movable member into their said first relative position, and means for returning said movable member and said knock-off member while in their said first relative position to the beginning of said work pass at which said movable member is biased into its said initial position.

9. In a machine having a movable member, a support member therefor, means mounting said movable member on said support member for reciprocatory movement in a first path and for reciprocatory movement transversely of said first path to and from a working position, first and second drive elements operatively connected to said movable and support members for effecting movement of said movable member along said first path in its working position and being separable by movement of said movable member from its working position, means connecting one of said drive elements to said movable member to effect movement of said movable member along said first path and for movement therewith transversely of said first path to effect engagement and disengagement of the drive elements upon movement of said movable member to and from its working position, said movable member being biased to its said working position when in its working position and during at least the initial portion .of movement along said first path, a knock-off member supported by one of said movable and support members, said knockoff member and its supporting member being relatively movable from a first relative position to a second relative position to effect disengagement of said drive elements, biasing means acting between said knock-oif member and supporting member for biasing said knock-off member and its supporting member apart and to their said second relative positions during at least the end portion of said movement along said first path and effecting movement of said knock-off member and its supporting member to their said second relative position, means on the other of said support and movable members for overcoming and charging said biasing means and positioning said knockoff member and its supporting member in their said first relative position on said reciprocatory movement in said work pass, latching means for rendering said biasing means ineffective, and means effecting release of said latching means at the end of said movement along said first path to effect relative movement of said knock-off member and its supporting member to their said second relative position effecting disengagement of said drive elements.

10. In a machine as defined in claim 9 wherein said knock-off member is supported by said movable member and is movable therewith through said reciprocatory movements and said spring means acts between said knock-01f member and its said support.

11. In a machine as defined in claim 9 wherein said means for charging said biasing means comprises a cam member along which said knock-01f member moves upon movement of said movable member to effect charging of said spring means.

12. In a machine as defined in claim 9 wherein said latching means comprises first and second members having parts which overlap on reciprocatory movement of said movable member in its said first path.

13. In a machine having a movable member and a support member therefor, means mounting said movable member an said support member for reciprocatory movement in a first path and for reciprocatory movement tansversely of said first path to and. from a working position, first and second drive elements operatively connected to said movable and support members for effecting movement of said movable member along said first path when in its working position and being separable by movement of said movable member from its said working position, means connecting one of said driving elements to said movable member to effect movement of said movable member along said first path and for movement therewith transversely of said first path to effect engagement and disengagement of said drive elements upon movement of said movable member to and from its working position, said movable member being biased to its said working position when in its working position and during at least the initial portion of movement along said first path, a knock-off member supported by said movable member, said knock-off member and its supporting member being relatively movable from a first relative position to a second relative position to effect disengagement of said drive elements, biasing means acting between said knock-off member and its supporting member for biasing said knock-off member and its supporting member apart and to their said second relative position, a cam member located in the path of movement of said knock-off member when it is moved with said movable member in said reciprocatory movement in the first path and operable to overcome and charge said biasing means and positioning said knock-off member and its supporting member in their said first relative position, a first latch member carried by said movable member, a second latch member carried by said support member, said first and second latch members having cooperative latching positions wherein they prevent movement of said movable member by said biasing means and thereby render said biasing means ineffective, said first latch member being movable with said movable member and movable into position beneath said second latch member prior to movement of said knockoff member into engagement with said cam surface, and means effecting release of said latching member at the end of the movement of said movable member in said first path to effect disengagement of said drive elements.

14. A machine as defined in claim 13 wherein said knock-off member comprises a roller carried by a block member which is slidably received in a passage in the movable support member and which is movable in the passage by the action of the cam means to effect the compression of said biasing means.

15. In a machine, a movable arm member, a support member for said movable arm member, means mounting said movable arm member for movement in a work pass from an initial position to an end position and for reciprocatory movement transversely of said work pass to said initial position and from said end position, first and second drive elements operatively connected to said movable arm and support members and engageable upon movement of said movable arm member transversely of said work pass toward said support member to said initial position and when engaged operable to effect movement of said movable arm member along said work pass and being separable by movement of said movable arm member transversely of said work pass away from said support member and from said end position, latching means including cooperating parts on said movable arm and support members operable to hold said first and second drive elements engaged during movement of said mov- References Cited by the Examiner able arm member in said work pass, and means for efiecting release of said latching means and separation UNITED STATES PATENTS of said drive elements when said movable arm member 2,381,849 8/1945 Varndell 825.5 arrives at its end position in said work pass. 5 3 159 065 12/1964 Dimer 5 5 16. In a machine as defined in claim 15 wherein said 3165769 1/1965 Par n 5 X means for effecting separation of said drive elements so S comprises a knock-off member carried by one of said movable arm and support members and spring means WILLIAM DYER P'lmary Exammer' acting between said knock-off member and its supporting 1O HARRISON HINSON, Examiner member. 

1. IN A MACHINE, A MOVABLE ARM MEMBER, A SUPPORT MEMBER FOR SAID MOVABLE ARM MEMBER, MEANS MOUNTING SAID MOVABLE ARM MEMBER FOR MOVEMENT IN A WORK PASS FROM AN INITIAL POSITION TO AN END POSITION AND FOR RETURN TO SAID INITIAL POSITION AND FOR RECIPROCATORY MOVEMENT TRANSVERSELY OF SAID WORK PASS TO SAID INITIAL POSITION AND FROM SAID END POSITION, FIRST AND SECOND DRIVE ELEMENTS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID MOVABLE ARM AND SUPPORT MEMBERS AND ENGAGEABLE UPON MOVEMENT OF SAID MOVABLE ARM MEMBER TRANSVERSE OF SAID WORK PASS TOWARD SAID SUPPORT MEMBER TO SAID INITIAL POSITION AND WHEN ENGAGED OPERABLE TO EFFECT MOVEMENT OF SAID MOVABLE ARM MEMBER ALONG SAID WORK PASS AND BEING SEPARABLE BY MOVEMENT OF SAID MOVABLE ARM MEMBER TRANSVERSELY OF SAID WORK PASS AWAY FROM SAID SUPPORT MEMBER AND FROM SAID WORK POSITION, MEANS BIASING SAID MOVABLE ARM MEMBER INTO ITS SAID INITIAL WORKING POSITION WHEN SAID MOVABLE ARM AND SUPPORT MEMBERS ARE POSITIONED AT THE BEGINNING OF SAID WORK PASS, LATCHING MEANS INCLUDING COOPERATING PARTS ON SAID MOVABLE ARM AND SUPPORT MEMBERS OPERABLE TO HOLD SAID FIRST AND SECOND DRIVE ELEMENTS ENGAGED DURING MOVEMENT OF SAID MOVABLE ARM MEMBER IN SAID WORK PASS, MEANS FOR EFFECTING RELEASE OF SAID LATCHING MEANS AND SEPARATION OF SAID DRIVE ELEMENTS WHEN THE MOVABLE ARM MEMBER ARRIVES AT ITS END POSITION IN SAID WORK PASS, AND MEANS FOR RETURNING SAID MOVABLE ARM MEMBER TO THE BEGINNING OF SAID WORK PASS AT WHICH SAID MOVABLE ARM MEMBER IS BIASED INTO ITS SAID INITIAL POSITION. 